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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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IG hopeful on success of community policing
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, at the weekend assured of the success of community policing as he continued creating awareness on it.
Balogun told businessmen under the aegis of Business Club Ikeja, Lagos, that community policing had been successfully pursued in countries such as South Africa, Australia and Britain.
He told the businessmen that the campaign brought to them was to enable them understand the concept and be involved in its implementation.
Balogun who was represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Murtala Mohammed Police Command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo dismissed the fear that the concept would not work.
He said: "It is expected that pessimists and cynics, including other social critics would be tempted to argue that it is not likely for a Police Force that is used to the reactive methodology in policing which is again flavoured by a traditional military style of enforcing law to adopt a more people-oriented service methodology that is predicated on democratic principles and rule of law."
The IG noted that a team called Establishment of Community Policing Developers (ECPD) had been set up.
Balogun said: "This team is made up of carefully selected officers and men who have been well trained in the entire gamut of community policing.
"This team will help to impact the knowledge they have gained on the initiative on other officers which is intended to complement the effect of workshops and other forms of enlightenment campaign programmes including carefully planned task-oriented training scheme."
The IG tasked the Business Club to support the project aimed at improving the relationship between the police and the public.
He said: "Community Policing as a project is founded on the need to forge partnership with residents, business owners, community leaders, government departments and agencies with a view to eradicating crime and improving the quality of life in Nigerian communities."
According to him, community policing is in line with the current democratic dispensation where the police are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens to liberty, equality and justice under the law.
Balogun said: "Under this scheme, the police are expected to think, reason, plan and act with members of the community collaboratively and in a proactive manner rather than allowing crimes to take place before reacting to the situation."
He continued: "It is a radical but a systematic departure from the traditional approach to policing which is reactive and responsive to distress call-oriented and exclusively law enforcement based."
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